If you are still working in Adobe Photoshop Elements 7-10, you need to read this right away. It's time for you to make the switch to version 11 or higher!

Here at MLC, this is how we feel about the jump from Photoshop Elements 10-11. Jaw dropping-ly exciting.

Recently, my Mom has become interested in photography and was talking to me about Photoshop stuff. She mentioned that she has Elements 7 and could use it for working on pictures. You should have seen the look on my face.

Nooooooooooooooo.

If you used to have versions 7-10 made the switch to Elements 11 in 2012, you know what I'm sayin'.

I would think that people have upgraded over the years, but my Moms' comments on Elements 7 have prompted me to think that maybe some of our customers here at MLC haven't made the switch. If you haven't then now is the time.I have to point out that the Elements software itself as far as what it offers hasn't changed that much. However, there are two major changes.

Major noteworthy changes from a developers and ultimately a customers perspective:1. Layer-Masking Capability2. Improved Action Installation

Starting in 2012 with Adobe Photoshop Elements 11, Adobe added layer-masking capability. In previous versions of Elements, it was a difficult process to add a layer mask while using some effects. All of the normal adjustment layers such as Hue/Saturation, Levels, etc. came with a layer mask automatically. But many of the other advanced techniques used had to rely on a clipping mask. A clipping mask is a technique used to force a layer mask onto a layer using an adjustment layer and clipping it to the layer where the mask is needed.

Does that sound complicated?

Well, it is.

For a developer like me, this process has been plagued with problems. Clipping masks don't always translate well between the full version of Photoshop and Elements and often (very often) over the years Actions have failed in testing because of this.

Beginning with Elements 11, Adobe gives full layer masking capability that matches up with the layer masking capability of the full version of Photoshop.

No more clipping masks!

For us here at MLC, this means many less failed Actions, and many more Actions that we are able to offer to Elements users.

Beginning with Adobe Photoshop Elements 11, we see a brand new way to install Actions. Previously, it took a lot of work for Elements users to install Actions in the photo effects folder of their computer. The process of installation was different for PC users, Mac users, Vista users, and XP users. The process was fraught with problems from the beginning.

In other words, it was hard y'all.

There were media databases to rename...which always scared me for some reason. There were twice as many files to install as each action had to have a corresponding thumbnail. There were missing Actions, missing photo effects folders...it was just a lot.

Now it is simple, and translates well across all software versions and operating systems. You simply install the Actions nearly exactly the same way as the full version of Photoshop. See our video on how to install Actions in Elements 11-13. In 2013, Adobe released Elements 12 and a year later version 13. Photoshop Elements version 14 is in the works now and should be released in the next year. I doubt it will be earth-shattering as the jump from Elements 10-11 was.

In short, for these reasons you should switch from versions prior to Elements 11 to one of the versions after 11. Elements 13 is currently available for instant download for both PC and MAC on Amazon here.

Here at MLC, we have made the difficult decision to no longer support Photoshop Elements versions 7-10 as we have for the last 4 years. We truly believe that our customers are better supported in Elements 11-13 and beyond.

We will start this transition with existing products on March 1, 2015. We are confident that this will serve our customer base much better in the future.

Do you have questions? Do you love the newer versions of Photoshop Elements like we do? Let us know! Leave a comment!

MLC Products that are currently compatible with Adobe Photoshop Elements 11-13:

ESSENTIAL FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

SKY OVERLAYS

In May 2013 Adobe® made a shift away from the line of Creative Suite® products that has been a staple of professional toolboxes for the last 12 years. It instead announced a shift toward the now popular cloud interface. Boxed software, perpetual licenses, updates for Photoshop® CS2 - CS6, will no longer be available. Going forward, Adobe's Creative Cloud® subscription service is the only way to update your software.

You may be content with the boxed version of Adobe® Photoshop® CS3, CS4, CS5, or CS6, but here is why you should consider making the switch.